Clarkson waters down his apology to Brown, saying: 'I'm sorry for calling him one-eyed and Scottish but not the idiot bit'

Top Gear host Jeremy Clarkson today watered down his apology to Gordon Brown after calling him a 'one-eyed Scottish idiot'.

The BBC presenter, in his weekly newspaper column, insisted he was only sorry for making the joke about the Prime Minister's nationality and his sight problems.

'I very specifically apologised for making fun of his personal appearance - very specifically,' he wrote.

'I have nothing against the Scottish and of course I regret making any remark that might have upset the disabled. But the idiot bit - there is no chance I'll apologise for that.'

Mouthing off: Top Gear hosts Jeremy Clarkson and Richard Hammond pose for photographs in front of the Sydney Harbour Bridge

His rather more diluted apology came hours after he was forced to issue a swift statement to save his BBC job after the comment emerged.

Insiders said that following the furore over Carol Thatcher, the BBC would have to be seen to be taking a hard line on him if he had failed to apologise fully.

In his statement Clarkson, 48 – who is paid £2 million a year by the BBC - said: ‘In the heat of the moment I made a remark about the Prime Minister’s personal appearance for which, upon reflection, I apologise.'

The presenter made the offensive remarks in Sydney whilst hosting a press conference about Top Gear Live, a stage version of the popular motor show.

He compared the Prime Minister unfavourably with Australian premier Kevin Rudd, who had just addressed his country on the scale of the economic downturn.

Clarkson then accused Gordon Brown of lying before insulting him over his lack of sight in one eye, the result of a rugby accident in his teens.

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He said to the audience: ‘(In the UK) we’ve got this one-eyed Scottish idiot, he keeps telling us everything’s fine and he’s saved the world and we know he’s lying, but he’s smooth at telling us.’

Injury: Gordon Brown, pictured yesterday in Downing Street, lost the sight in one eye in a rugby accident when he was a teenager

The presenter appeared to acknowledge that he had been rude almost immediately. He said to co-star Richard Hammond: ‘I said that out loud, didn’t I?’, before laughing the situation off.

Public anger escalated in the UK, with some calling for the corporation to take Clarkson off the air.

Lord Foulkes, a former Labour Scottish minister, said: ‘If the BBC banned Jonathan Ross for what he said and they have taken Carol Thatcher off air for something she said in private, then something should be done about Clarkson.’

Lesley-Anne Alexander, chief executive of the Royal National Institute of Blind People, said: ‘Mr Clarkson’s description of Prime Minister Brown is offensive. Any suggestion that equates disability with incompetence is totally unacceptable.’

Although Downing Street has declined to comment, arguing that ‘Mr Clarkson is entitled to his own interpretation of the economic circumstances,’

Business Secretary Lord Mandelson, gave a caustic reaction. ‘I’ve got absolutely no repeatable views to express on Mr Jeremy Clarkson,’ he said.

Clarkson also insulted Top Gear fans at the event describing those that come to the studios as ‘apes’.

He also talked about the programme’s motorcycle stuntmen, saying: ‘They’re French, so if they get killed it’s not the end of the world.’

The BBC issued a statement noting that the presenter had apologised and said no further action would be taken because of this.

The corporation remains accused of hypocrisy after axeing Carol Thatcher from her role as roving reporter on The One Show after she called a black tennis player a ‘golliwog’ in a conversation that took place off air.

Asked about the difference in the corporation’s treatment between the two, Miss Thatcher’s agent Ali Gunn said: ‘The BBC operates with double standards. It would be nice to know where they draw their lines.’

A corporation insider said: ‘He [Clarkson] has given an unconditional apology, we have accepted it so there is no need for further debate.’

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'I'm sorry for calling Brown one-eyed and Scottish but he's STILL an idiot', says Clarkson